For the past 19 years, I have spent my summers on the baseball diamond umpiring. I have umpired everything from little league to college. I have attended the Harry Wendelstedt umpire school twice. This blog will be a combination of stories and lessons I have learned along the way.

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

I am less than 9 hours away from taking the field for my first game of the season. I am pumped. Hopefully, the equpiment I ordered from Gerry Davis Sports will arrive before I leave to I can break in my new shoes and jacket tonight.

This is my favorite time of the year. Last night I went through my yearly routine of getting everything together and cleaning my gear and polishing my shoes. This is when my season begins every year.

This is my favorite time of the year but this year might even be a little more special than the others. On top of working at the little league complex, I am also getting back into high school and college plus, I am getting a "try out" with the Frontier League. I am going to work the plate during an exhibition game and, hopefully, get a chance to be one of their local umpires. This would be a dream come true.

Well, since it is the first day of the season, I think today is a good time to give one of my tips. This really isn't as much of a tip as it is just a clarification on a rule.

Remember when you get out there this spring, a balk is not a dead ball, it is a DELAYED dead ball. This means that if you call a balk, but the pitcher pitches before you kill the play and it's hit, you let the play run out. If the batter runner and all runners advance one base, then the balk is nulified. If that doesn't happen, then you bring the batter back to bat and enforce the balk.

My tip for balks. When you see the balk, call it right away, go back to a set position and then if the pitcher hasn't pitched, kill the play. Remember, calling balk does not mean that the play is dead, you still have to call time.

Ok, that's my tip for now. I might think of something else in a little bit but if not, have fun this season and hopefully, you stay away from walkathons!!!